Riyadh Air Approved to Operate in U.S.

The start-up carrier applied for a foreign air carrier permit and exemption authority in May.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 01:55 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Riyadh Air’s first two 787 Dreamliners arrive in Riyadh. (Photo: Riyadh Air)

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has approved Riyadh Air's request to commence flights to and from the United States.
The DOT found the additional air service from Saudi Arabia to be "consistent with the public interest" and confirmed Riyadh Air's financial and operational capabilities.
While Riyadh Air has not yet announced its specific U.S. destinations, it recently launched its first commercial routes to London and other international cities, with plans to serve over 100 destinations by 2030.

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The Department of Transportation has signed off on Riyadh Air’s request to start flights to and from the U.S.

In a decision issued Tuesday, the department said additional air service from Saudi Arabia is “consistent with the public interest.” It also found that Riyadh Air is financially and operationally capable of supporting new connections.

The carrier has not said which destinations in the U.S. it will look to serve, and the DOT’s ruling did not provide any clues.

Riyadh Air launched its first regularly scheduled, fully public commercial route, between Riyadh and London Heathrow, earlier this month. Another five destinations have been added to the carrier’s schedule – Manchester, Dubai, Cairo, Madrid, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – but so far none in North America.

All six routes will operate with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

Riyadh Air has said it will add over 100 destinations by 2030.

Saudi Arabia’s older flag carrier, Saudia, currently serves New York-JFK, Washington Dulles, and Los Angeles, as well as Toronto in Canada.